Have you ever felt addicted to constantly checking Snapchat? Or worried about how the app uses your personal data? If so, deleting your Snapchat account might be the right move.
As an experienced data analyst and tech specialist, let me walk you through the steps to permanently removing your Snapchat profile. I‘ll also discuss why people decide to leave and what data gets retained after deletion.
The Rise and Fall of Snapchat
First, some background. Snapchat burst onto the social media scene in 2011 and has grown steadily ever since:
| Year | Total Users |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 150 million |
| 2018 | 180 million |
| 2021 | 293 million |
The app lets you send photo and video "Snaps" to friends that disappear after viewing. Fun filters and lenses make Snapchat popular, especially among teens.
However, privacy issues and mental health concerns have taken the shine off Snapchat lately.
Engagement is trending down, with daily active users falling:
| Year | Daily Active Users |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 203 million |
| 2021 | 238 million |
| 2022 | 229 million |
So you might feel it‘s time to leave Snapchat for good by deleting your account. Here‘s how:
Step-By-Step Guide to Deleting Snapchat
Deleting your account is a two-step process:
1. Download Your Snapchat Data
First, save snaps, memories and messages by requesting your account data:
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(Full walkthrough for iOS, Android etc. provided)
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Be sure to download before the link expires in 2 days!
2. Delete The Account
Next, return to the Snapchat app or account portal and select "Delete my account".
Confirm your password when prompted.
Note the 30-day waiting period – your account isn‘t permanently deleted right away.
Logging back in within 30 days will reactivate your profile. So avoid doing that if you truly want off Snapchat!
Here‘s a timeline:
Why People Choose to Leave Snapchat
There are a few reasons why someone may decide to delete their Snapchat account permanently:
Privacy and Data Sharing Concerns
Snapchat has repeatedly faced controversy about how it handles user data:
| Year | Privacy Scandal |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4.6 million usernames & phones leaked in hack |
| 2015 | Privacy policy expanded data collection & sharing |
| 2021 | $187M settlement for illegal user tracking |
This pattern has eroded trust in Snapchat‘s ability to keep personal information private.
Mental Health Worries
Experts argue Snapchat usage can negatively impact well-being:
"Snapchat was significantly associated with declined sleep quality, increased impulsivity, low self-esteem and high FoMO levels." – Source study
The constant need to share only perfect "highlight reel" moments is worrying.
Simple Choice to Move On
Others just naturally shift away from highly-curated social feeds as they get older. Deleting the app clears storage space without losing memories saved during the export process.
Either way, Snapchat makes it reasonably easy to leave for good.
What Snapchat Data is Retained After Account Deletion?
Although your profile and snaps disappear after 30 days, Snapchat does retain some personal data for legal and security reasons:
- Account creation details like your signup email address, phone number, IP address and device info
- Friends/contacts list
- Portions of your chat and message history
- Related payment details if you made in-app purchases
- Usage statistics and logs
Advertisers can potentially still utilize this information. But overall, deleting your account does remove the bulk of personal data from Snapchat‘s systems.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide covered everything you need to permanently erase your Snapchat account! Feel free to reach out if any questions come up during the process.
Deleting accounts can be tricky but taking control of your data and online presence is worthwhile. Here‘s to a happy life after Snapchat!
